Cricket hums thoughtfully. "Well, you're right that you can't hide him, that's for sure."

He rubs the back of his neck. "Maybe...if we sort of prepare him a little? Introduce him to some of the other non-human people around? I mean, I guess I don't blame him for bein' jumpy about a Thing bein' around. I'm not sure we could do anything about it if Bob ever decided he didn't want to play nice after all, but that's the case with a lot of the folks around."